by Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Sports

by Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox will play at Dodger Stadium this weekend for the first time since 2002. The blockbuster trade that helped launch the Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers to their current first-place standing is even more rare than such visits.

Sunday marks the first anniversary of a trade that rocked baseball, a daring swap that saw the Dodgers absorb close to $250 million in salaries by acquiring Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto. In exchange, the Red Sox gained lots of payroll relief, four prospects - none of them currently on the active roster - and first baseman James Loney, who is now with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The clubs will mark the occasion by playing a night game in front of a national audience on ESPN, and there is plenty to be happy about.

Both teams underachieved in 2012, and the Red Sox finished last for the first time since 1992. Now they're leading the American League East while completing a challenging 19-game stretch that includes 13 on the road.

The Dodgers are the majors' hottest team, with a 28-5 record since the All-Star Game that has swelled their lead in the National League West to 91/2 games. They have gone 45-10 since June 22.

"This is one of those deals that I think has helped out both sides, clearly," said Red Sox manager John Farrell, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays at the time of the trade.

Although Beckett is out for the season after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, Gonzalez is leading the Dodgers with 16 home runs and 77 RBI and Crawford has solidified the leadoff spot. But their contributions have been overshadowed by the exploits of shortstop Hanley Ramirez and mercurial rookie Yasiel Puig, whose legend grows by the day. The Red Sox are curious to see what Puig is like in person.

"He's revived that team, brought some energy, and that's the kind of stuff I look at," outfielder Shane Victorino said. "Yeah, you look at some of the other things, and you're like, 'What's this kid doing?' But ultimately, he focuses down and shows how talented he is."

Victorino was one of the Dodgers' trade deadline acquisitions last year as they tried in vain to challenge the San Francisco Giants for division supremacy. Once the Dodgers brought in Crawford, then injured, Victorino knew his days in Los Angeles were numbered.

With their new financial flexibility, the Red Sox molded a different team and changed their clubhouse chemistry. One of their moves was to sign Victorino as a free agent.

"I'm very excited to go back and see how talented that team is, but I plan on going there and kick their (butt)," Victorino said. "That's the goal. Not in a bad way, but that's how I'm looking at it."

The task should be made easier by the absence of the Dodgers' top two starters from this weekend's matchups. Cy Young Award winners Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw pitched Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.